L – 7: EFFECTS OF SOURCE INDUCTANCE,

EFFECTS OF OVERLAP ANGLES

DISCONTINUOUS CURRENT OPERATIONS

1. Effect of Source Inductance

The analysis of most converters is usually simplified under ideal conditions no source
impedance. However, this assumption is not justified since source impedance is normally
inductive with a negligible resistive element.

If the source impedance is resistive, then there is a voltage drop across the resistance and the
average voltage output of the converter gets reduced by an amount equal to I o R s.

Where
I o – Constant DC load current,
R s– Source resistance per phase.

Source inductance has a significant impact on the converter performance because its presence
alters the output voltage of the converter. As a result, the output voltage reduces as the load
current reduces.

In addition, the input current and output voltage waveforms change significantly.
Source inductance effect on a converter is analyzed in the following two ways.

1. Effect on Single Phase

Assuming that the converter operates in conduction mode and the ripple from the load current is
negligible, the open circuit voltage becomes equal to average DC output at a firing angle of α.

The diagram below shows a fully controlled converter with source in single phase.
 The thyristors T3 and T4 are assumed to be in conduction mode when t=0 .
 On the other hand, T1 and T2 fire when ωtt=α

Where: V i−input voltage ;

V o −output voltage
I i−input current ;
I o−output current
When there is no source inductance, commutation will occur at T3 and T4.
 Immediately thyristors T1 and T2 are switched ON. This will lead the input polarity to
change instantaneously.

In the presence of source inductance, change of polarity and commutation does not occur
instantaneously.
 Thus, T3 and T4 do not commutate as soon as T1 and T2 are switched ON.
 Source inductance causes the outgoing and incoming SCRs to conduct together.

At some interval, all the four thyristors will be conducting. This conducting interval is called the
overlap interval μ.

 The commutation period when outgoing and incoming thyristors are conducting is
known as overlap period.
 The angular period, when both devices share conduction is known as the
commutation angle or overlap angle.

The following observations can be made:

 The output voltage is zero during this period.
 Commutation overlap occurs twice per cycle,
o Once T 3∧T 4 are turned ON to commutate T 1∧T 2 ,
o Again when T 1∧T 2 are turned ON to commutate T 3∧T 4
 These commutation overlaps cause reduction in the output voltage.
The overlap during commutation reduces the DC output voltage and the angle of extinction γ
resulting in failed commutation when α is close to 180°.

2. Effect on Three Phase

Just like the single-phase converter, there are no instantaneous commutations due to the presence
of the source inductances.

Taking the source inductances into consideration, the effects qualitatively, on the converter
performance is the same as in a single phase converter.

This is shown in the diagram below.

Discontinuous current operations;

Discontinuous mode in DC-DC converter is when during the operation of the converter,
interconnection is not always a factor, and voltages and currents reach zero during some time
intervals.

Nature of discontinuous mode:

Discontinuous mode behaviour occurs when the inductor is too small to maintain the current
flow. If the inductor is very large, it can be represented as a steady state current source.

Definition:

A DC-DC converter is defined as operating in discontinuous mode if its inductors are too
small to maintain a current flow at all times.

During continuous conduction mode, the inductor current in the energy transfer never reaches
zero value. In the case of the discontinuous conduction mode, the inductor current falls to zero
level which is very common in DC-to-DC converters.
If the peak of the inductor current ripples is less than the DC component of the inductor current,
the diode current is always positive and the diode is forced to turn ON when the switch S (either
a transistor or thyristor) is off.
 On the other hand, if the peak of the inductor current ripples becomes more than the DC
component of the inductor current, the total current falls to zero value while the diode is
conducting.
 Thus, the diode will stop conducting and the inductor current will remain at zero value
until the switch S will be gated again due to the polarity reversal across the switch.
 This gives rise to the discontinuous conduction mode in the chopper or the DC-to-DC
converter.
In the discontinuous conduction mode, inductor current is not persistent throughout the complete
cycle and reaches zero level earlier even before the end of the period.
Discontinuous conduction mode inductance is less than the minimum value of the inductance for
the continuous conduction mode,
LDCM < LCCM.
Thus, this condition generally arises for the light-load condition.